Platform attachment for ladders



March 1970 L. E. TAYLOR, SR 3,503,468

PLATFORM ATTACHMENT FOR LADDERS Filed July 2. 1968 I 2 Sheets-Sheet l Fig.2

INVENTOR.

W mm E. Taylor, Sr.

March 31, 1970 TAYLOR, 5 3,503,468

PLATFORM ATTACHMENT FOR LADDERS Filed July 2, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Lee E. Taylor, Sr.

INVENTOK.

United States Patent 3,503,468 PLATFORM ATTACHMENT FOR LADDERS Lee E. Taylor, Sr., Deatsville, Ala., assignor of eighty percent to Earl W. Solomon, Montgomery, Ala. Filed July 22, 1968, Ser. No. 746,389 Int. Cl. E06c 7/16 U.S. Cl. 182-121 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to selfcontained ready-to-use hanger-equipped attachments which provide reliable and comforting support facilities for users of ladders. Each attachment is characterized by plate means providing an adaptable platform, and hangers of one type or another which can be reliably hung from the rungs and steps of conventional-type ladders.

Three styles of ladders such as are commonly an currently used are herein mentioned for background information. The self-levelling cradle-type attachment is designed and adapted to be attached to and suspended from a selected rung on the upper vertical ladder component or section of a three-part A ladder so that the workman using it will have a safe and comfortable platform to work from. Another attachment is designed and adapted for use on an extension ladder. This attachment lends itself to adaptable use on the horizontal rungs which may, as is often the case, become slippery and even when dry, subject the arches of the users feet and legs to perplexing and wearying strain. The use of three platforms structurally linked together provides a uniquely serviceable attachment, The third attachment is likewise made up of three broad surfaced platforms which are foldably linked together and are capable of being c0- operatively mounted on the steps of a folding stepladder and not only provide a comfortable and safe-standing support surface but can be conveniently used as shelves for paint containers, brush holders, and working tools and implements.

Briefly, each ladder construction for purposes of overall interpretation embodies spaced parallel vertical side rails or stiles which are provided between their opposed interior sides with vertically spaced horizontal ascending and descending members, either round rungs or fiat-top steps. The instant concept is directed, generally construed, to self-contained readily applicable and removable rung and step attachments each characterized, generally stated, by plate means providing a broad area platform which when in use assumes an easy-to-use position between the rails and is cooperable with a predetermined rung or step, as the case may be. The platform provides a safe and sound support surface for both feet of the user. The user can stand safely and reliably, shift his feet and weight at will and can cope with and endure tiring work requirements. Each platform is equipped with hanger means embodying an upstanding pair of rigid coplanar legs having upper free ends provided with readily attachable hooks which are releasably hung over and suspended from a selected step, said legs having lower ends joined r. CC

by a common connecting member, and means provided on a rearward marginal edge of said platform and hingedly joining said connecting member and platform in cooperative relationship.

More specifically the multipurpose or sectional adaptation for stepladders and extension ladders has to do with several, that is, upper, lower and intermediate U-shaped hangers. Each hanger embodies a pair of companion vertical legs whose lower ends are joined by a horizontal connecting member which in effect is the bight portion of the U-shaped hanger itself. The upper ends of the upper U-shaped hanger have free ends provided with attaching hooks. These hooks can be releasably engaged over and hung from an upper step on the ladder or rung as the case may be. The cooperating upper, lower and intermediate flat plates are cooperably and respectively associated with the upper, lower and intermediate hangers. Each plate provides a standing and supporting platform for a user. Each plate has a rearward marginal mounting and hinging knuckle and forwardly marginally positioned flange means. The flange means is adapted to retentively coact with selected ladder steps and the knuckles are hingedly connected with their respectively cooperable connecting and assembling members.

These together with other object and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a view showing a fragmentary portion of an extension ladder having rungs and wherein the self-contained ready-to-use folding attachment is cooperatively connected with the four rungs which are involved when the attachment is fully applied.

FIG, 2 is a section taken approximately on the plane of the section line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a view in perspective of the attachment by itself and showing the several plates or platforms compactly folded together for carrying, handling and storage.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view in perspective similar to FIG. 1 but showing how the attachment lends itself to use on the flat faced but relatively narrow steps of a stepladder.

FIG. 5 is a view on a suitably enlarged scale and appearing in section and elevation and taken on the plane of the section line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a view in perspective of the cradle-type selflevelling attachment showing how it is constructed and applied to a suspension rung of the vertical ladder component of an A-type ladder (not fully shown).

And FIG. 7 is a view in perspective of the attachment appearing in FIG. 6 and which shows the same disconnected and wherein the plates or plate portions of the platform are separated.

Attention is first directed to FIG. 1 to 5 inclusive. FIGS. 1 and 2 show the invention attached or applied to a part of an extension ladder. FIGS. 4 and 5 are similar views showing the similarly constructed attachment applied to the steps of a stepladder.

The extension ladder in FIGS. 1 and 2 is of regular construction and is denoted by the numeral 10. As usual it comprises a pair of coplanar spaced parallel side rails or stiles 12 wherein the steps are in the form of rungs or rounds 14. The stepladder is likewise of regular or conventional construction and the ladder proper is denoted by the numeral 16 and is characterized by spaced parallel rails or stiles 18 with flat-faced horizontal steps 19 mounted between the rails at vertically spaced points. It will be noted that the attachment for both the extension ladder 10 and stepladder 16 is basically the same and for this reason it is believed that it will simplify matters by describing the attachments in FIGS. 1 to 5 inclusive by designating like parts with like reference numerals. Generally stated the over-all attachment embodies upper, lower and intermediate U-shaped hangers the upper one of which is designated at 20, the lower one at 22 and the intervening or intermediate one at 24. Each hanger is of general U-shaped form and embodies spaced parallel legs 26 the lower ends of which are provided with a horizontal cross member 28. The cross member in conjunction with the companion legs provides a U-shaped hanger and the cross member is herein referred to as the bight portion of the U. The upper end portions of the uppermost legs are twisted as at 30 and formed into terminal hooks 32. These hooks can be constructed to engage the rungs 14. A brace 34 is provided if desired. The arms or legs of the respective hangers are linked together and this linkage means serves to accommodate and properly assemble the several selectively usable platforms. The upper platform is denoted at 36, the lower one at 38 and the intermediate one at 40. Each platform comprises a plate of suitable area or size which is denoted by the numeral 42 and has a rearward marginal edge portion coiled upon itself to provide a rolled edge or bead 44 which encircles the cross member of the U- shaped hanger thus providing the desired assembling and hinging connection. The forward marginal edge portion 46 of each platform is provided with a depending flange 48 inwardly of which a second companion flange 50 is provided. These spaced parallel flanges 48 and 50 serve as keeper means and this keeper means is releasably and tiltably connected with the rung or step as the case may be. The hooks for attaching the arms or legs in FIGS. 4 and 5 are basically the same as the hooks 32 but are conveniently referred to as a matter of slight distinction by the numeral 33. Whether the platforms are attached to rungs or steps it will be evident that each of the several rungs or steps involved is increased in area. This is to say the platform provides an adequate areal surface atop which the user can stand firmly with both feet, can shift his feet and change his position and stand safely and comfortably in a self-evident manner. The steps can also be used as shelves to support a can of paint, tools, implements and the like if so desired. It is submitted that the construction and manner of use of the over-all attachment is clear when applied to an extension ladder as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and likewise self-evident when applied to the steps 20 of the rails 18 of a stepladder as brought out in FIGS. 4 and 5. Then, too, the manner in which the attachment can be bodily removed and collapsed or folded for handling and storage is believed to be evident from FIG. 3. When in use the flanged end means of the platforms is releasably engageable with the steps or rungs of the ladders. The knuckle-equipped ends provide the desired hinging and linking association of the component parts.

With respect now to the form or modification appearing in FIGS. 6 and 7 it is evident that the ladder component here shown is denoted at 52 and this may be the vertical ladder section of a self-standing A-type ladder (not detailed). The rails here are denoted at 54 and the rungs at 56. The attachment here is somewhat in the nature of a swing or a cradle and is self-levelling. The hangers or brackets are again U-shaped. With reference to 'FIG. 7 one U-shaped bracket or hanger is denoted at 58 and comprises a pair of spaced parallel limbs or legs 60 whose upper ends are fashioned into suitable hooks 62 which can be hung and suspended on the rung 56 as brought out in FIG. 6. The bight portion, that is, the connecting member between the legs 60 is denoted at 64 and it is sheathed in an assembling and hinging knuckle 68 formed along a rearward marginal edge of the plate component 70 of the dual plate means which in turn provides the desired standing and self-levelling platform. The forward marginal portion of this plate is provided with an open-ended channel 72 having outstanding reinforcing or stabilizing flanges 74 and 76. The channel provides a keyway for the keying flange 78 on the plate component 80 whose forward marginal edge 82 is provided with a bent knuckle 84 which is connected to the bight portion of the forward U-shaped hanger or bracket 86. Both brackets 58 and 86 are the same in construction and therefore the same reference numbers are used to identify like parts. Obviously when the flange 78 is seated in the channel 72 the coacting flanges 74 and 76 provide a stable connection between the plates 70 and 80 to keep the same in a common plane for practical standing use. In this arrangement the steps are only involved as the suspension or hanger means for the brackets that is the U-shaped brackets 58 and 86. The manner of using this form of the invention is self-evident as shown in FIG. 6.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the are, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In combination, a ladder embodying spaced parallel vertical side rails provided between themselves with fixedly secured vertically spaced horizontal steps for ladder ascending and descending use, a readily applicable and removable attachment for said ladder embodying a platform located in a position for use between said side rails, said platform having a flat support surface amply large in availably usable area that a user is enabled to place both feet firmly atop said surface, and hanger means for said platform embodying an upstanding pair of rigid coplanar legs having upper free ends provided with readily attachable hooks which are releasably hung over and suspended from a selected step, said legs having lower ends joined by a connecting member, said hanger means being U-shaped in elevation, said connecting member constituting the bight portion of the hanger means and providing a hinge pintle and said platform having a rearward edge fashioned into an assembling and hinging knuckle and said pintle being sheathed and pivoted in said hinging knuckle, said platform embodying at least one plate having a forward outward marginal edge provided with integral depending flange means designed and adapted to releasably engage over a selected step in a manner to utilize the step as platform-positioning and supporting means.

2. The combination defined in and according to claim 1, and wherein said attachment also embodies second and third platforms and individual but complemental U- shaped hanger means therefor cooperatively and foldably linked to each other and to said first-named hanger means and platform, whereby to provide three separate platforms for several adjacent steps and also to enable the user to employ the platforms to support paint containers, tools, implements and the like.

3. A portable folding attachment for selective and detachable use on a plurality of selectively usable ladder steps comprising in combination, interconnected but collapsible upper, lower and intermediate U-shaped hangers, each hanger embodying a pair of companion vertical legs having lower ends joined together by a horizontal connecting and assembling member, the upper ends of the legs of the upper U-shaped hanger having free ends provided with attaching and retaining means which is designed and adapted to releasably engage over and be hung from an upper step on said ladder, and upper, lower and intermediate singly and conjointly usable flat plates cooperable with their respectively associated upper, lower and intermediate hangers, each plate providing a platform, and each plate having a rearward marginal mounting and hinging edge and a forwardly outward marginal portion having means adapted to retentively coact with selected ladder steps and said means being hingedly connected with respectively cooperable horizontal connecting and assembling members, in a manner to structurally and functionally link the respective upper, lower and intermediate hangers and their coacting plates together in a manner to provide a unified folding ladder attachment.

4. An attachment for selective and detachable use on a plurality of ladder steps comprising in combination, upper, lower and intermediate U-shaped hangers, each embodying a pair of companion vertical legs having their lower ends joined together by a horizontal connecting and assembling member, the upper ends of the upper U-shaped hanger having free ends provided with hooks to releasably engage over and be hung from an upper step on said ladder, and upper, lower and intermediate flat plates cooperable with their respectively associated upper, lower and intermediate hangers, each plate providing a standing and supporting platform for a user thereof, and each plate having a rearward marginal mounting and hinging knuckle and a forwardly outward marginal portion with rigid depending spaced parallel positioning and retaining flanges, said flanges adapted to retentively coact with selected ladder steps and said knuckles being hingedly connected with their respectively cooperable horizontal connecting and assembling members, whereby to combine the respective upper, lower and intermediate hangers and their coacting plates in a manner to provide a folding ladder attachment.

5. A ladder attachment comprising a self-levelling folding platform having individual forward and rearward platform attaching and suspending hangers, said hangers being U-shaped and each embodying a pair of legs having lower ends joined by an intervening bight portion providing a connecting member, said platform spanning and being cradled between the connecting members of the respectively coperable hangers, the upper ends of said legs being free and provided with terminal hooks which are capable of being detachably hung over and suspended from a selected step of the ladder, said platform comprising forward and rearward companion plates having marginal edges with bent hinging knuckles, said knuckles embracing and being hingedly mounted on their respectively cooperable connecting members.

6. The ladder attachment defined in and according to claim 5, and wherein a rearward marginal edge of the forward plate has a lateral down-bent keying flange and the forward marginal edge of the rearward plate has an open-ended channel providing a keyway for receptive retention of said keying flange.

7. The ladder attachment defined in and according to claim 5, and wherein a rearward marginal edge of the forward plate has a lateral down-bent keying flange and the forward marginal edge of the rearward plate has an openended channel providing a keyway for receptive retention of said keying flange, and wherein the forward wall of said channel is provided with stabilizing flanges for rigidifying coaction with said keying flange.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 104,569 6/1870 Floyd 182--l56 686,159 11/1901 Sprague l82121 794,729 7/1905 McDonnall 182l56 1,920,552 8/1933 Dollerhide 182121 2,104,987 1/1938 Harding 182--121 2,282,133 5/1942 Horton 182-421 2,500,559 5/1950 Miller 18212l 2,876,047 5/1959 Plante 182-121 REINALDO P. MACHADO, Primary Examiner 

